A year ago yesterday I got endowed in
the Cardston Temple. I am grateful for the temple and the sacred ordinances that we make in the temple such as being sealed for time and
all eternity, endowment, baptisms for the dead, and confirmations. I am
glad that Chris got to go to the temple on Friday on a day where we
needed to feel peace. On a somber Monday morning, I write you my last
letter under President Leavitt's stewardship. It has been a very
interesting week. You are in for a special treat today. This will be
one of the most heart-felt letters I will have ever written to you. In
this letter I will talk about two main things - 1. The Plan of Happiness
and 2. President Leavitt.
While
we were in Liverpool on Friday, a less-active told us something very
alarming. He told us that gay marriage is now legal everywhere in the
United States. We were hoping he was wrong. But when we went on lds.org that night we saw the statement the Church had made. I would have loved
to not hear about that but I'm afraid there was no escaping something
that big and significant. We saw a
number of rainbow flags that day. We made the connection after we found
out about the ruling.
One of
my favorite hymns is "Master The Temptest is Raging." I will quote some
of the verses. "Master the temptest is raging, the billows are tossing high, ... the winds and waves shall obey thy will, peace be still, peace be
still." That relates to the temptest we are now facing. The Lord can
command the temptest to obey his will. Peace be still. The Lord is in
charge and can calm any storm we face.
It is
interesting how in this last general conference they spoke a lot about
families. Bonnie L. Oscarson gave a talk in the women's session on being
defenders of the family. In her talk she shared a story of a young girl
who stood up for her beliefs. There was a mob of people outside some
missionaries' apartment. Yelling at them to get out so they could
torture the missionaries. This young girl came out and commanded them to
depart with conviction and authority. They then departed. She said if
it wasn't for the Lord she couldn't have done that by herself. Bonnie L. Oscarson then talks about how not all of us will
have to stood up for our beliefs like this young girl did. But we all
need to defend our beliefs and doctrines. She then talks about how some
of our most cherished and sacred doctrine is being attacked.
Particularly marriage. Now she's talking to women but I think this
applies to everyone. She talks about how as disciples of Jesus Christ we
need to raise our voices in proclaiming the truth and defending our
beliefs.
At the same general conference, Elder
L. Tom Perry talks about Why Marriage and Family Matter. "We also
believe that strong traditional families are not only the basic units of
a stable society, a stable economy, and a stable culture of values—but
that they are also the basic units of eternity and of the kingdom and
government of God." The family is key to a stable economy and society.
He also talks about how marriage is between "One man and one women" This
is part of the plan of happiness.
Elder
Christoffersen also gave a talk on family. "A family built on the
marriage of a man and woman supplies the best setting for God’s plan to
thrive." He talks about the first commandment God gave to Adam and Eve
was to multiply and replenish the earth. One thing that stuck out to me
was that Heavenly Father created us from the beginning and has a divine
plan and destiny for each of us.
Elder Robert
D. Hales talked about religious freedom. "As disciples of Jesus Christ
we have a responsibility to work together with like-minded believers, to
raise our voices for what is right." Something that stuck out to me
was that we need to stand up for our beliefs together in unity.
In
the Family A Proclamation to the world. It says "WE CALL UPON
responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote
those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the
fundamental unit of society."
So that's
basically saying we're telling you if you don't make this a point then the
your going to have bad things happen and it's not going to be good.
I
testify to all who will read this that marriage is between a man and a
women. We were created in God's image. Heavenly Father has a plan for
each of us. One of the recitations we recite in companion study is the
Standard of Truth. "The Standard of truth has been erected. No unhallowed
hand can stop the work from progressing." No group of people, no
individual can touch this Church... ever! They will try and fail every
time. The Lord is at the head of this Church.
For
the past 11 months, I have had the honor and blessing of having
President Leavitt as my mission president. He has been like a Father to
me and means everything to me. He has cared for me like I was his son
from the beginning. He knows me better than I know myself. He has taught
me many things. He taught me how to love others. He taught that
everyone matters. He has taught key principles that I will carry with
me for the rest of my life. He has had a big emphasis on follow-up. One
of my favorite quotes from him is "Worry is a prayer to the wrong God."
He was also big on asking ourselves "What did we learn, What did we
feel, What are we going to do about it." He always had a big sense of humor.
My favorite memory of him was when I was at Christmas Zone Conference
and he took me, Elder Dupin, and Elder Willougby out to Subway. While at
Subway he came right up to me and asked me how I was doing with my panic
attacks. It was at that point I knew he really cared about me. I had my
last interview with President Leavitt on Thursday. It was very simple
and to the point. He said "it's been a privilege to have you in the
mission and I wish you nothing but the best with the rest of your
mission." He has played a profound impact in my life and I will truly
miss him.
My week was good. I went on an
exchange with Elder McNabb in Kentville on Wednesday and it was
bittersweet. Kentville is a lot different from when I left it. I got to
see the Drennan's again. It was a nice reunion. They seemed happy to see
me again. We picked up two new investigators on Saturday. We knocked into them and they let us right in. They are an older
couple. They grew up Baptist. They had a lot of questions about the
Book of Mormon, prayer, and baptism. Another investigator was at Church
yesterday and seemed to have really enjoyed it. She is showing sincere
interest right now and is progressing really well.
Hope you have a good week! Happy Canada Day!
God be with you till we meet again, President Leavitt!
Love,
Elder O'Brien
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